The Supreme Court on Thursday sought to put an end to the controversy over judicial overreach by observing that a recent order of a division bench was not binding on it.

"We are not bound by the two-judge bench order," a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said.

Justice Balakrishnan's remarks came when a lawyer, who had filed a public interest litigation, told the bench about news reports relating to the December 6 order of Justices A K Mathur and Markandey Katju, who had stated that the apex court in several judgments in the past had interfered by going into the domains of executive and legislature.

Allaying the lawyer's apprehensions, the bench entertained his PIL relating to the condition of widows in Vrindavan and Mathura and issued notices to the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government.